The federal government is providing more than $6.7 million to small- and medium-sized businesses in Edmonton. The funding, announced Wednesday, will come from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). The department said the money will help those companies scale up operations and access new markets in Canada and around the world. • Get the latest Edmonton updates right to your inbox “Today’s investments will help power some of Edmonton’s most innovative, high-growth companies to realize their full potential,” PrairiesCan Minister Terry Duguid said. “Each firm,” he continued, “is a leader in developing forward thinking solutions and fields like sustainable building technologies, digital health, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy.” Local companies receiving funding include: • Levven Electronics, which will receive up to $1.2 million to build manufacturing capacity, create a national marketing and sales team and expand its product line; • Care Group, which will get up to $1.5 million to scale up its digital mental health platform to service more than 50 rural and Indigenous communities; • Demir Engineering Ltd., which will receive up to $2.5 million to expand production of industrial products, scale up its manufacturing and workforce, and reach new markets; and • Grengine, which will be eligible for up to $1.5 million to increase production of its proprietary battery technology, expand manufacturing and reduce costs, as well as speed up deployment of battery packs for critical infrastructure and remote operations. “This investment from PrairiesCan is a game-changer for Levven,” said James Keirstead, president of Levven Electronics Ltd. “By reducing material waste and labour costs, we’re making homes more affordable and energy-efficient – something that benefits builders, homeowners, and the environment.” “Access to mental health support should not be a privilege, but a right for every Canadian, regardless of where they live,” said Care Group co-founder and CEO Ray Yue. “This investment from PrairiesCan enables Care Group to expand our digital mental health programming to more underserved populations across Canada.” PrairiesCan expects the funding to create about 100 jobs. Heather Thomson, vice-president of economy and engagement at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, said it will also help stimulate the local economy. “It’s not just the investment into the company, it’s all the subsidiary companies that they work with,” she explained. “There’s going to be cash flow turning over, so I think we’re going to see a lot more job investment, economic investment that’s going to come out of the money that we’re seeing spent here.” PrairiesCan is a federal department aimed at diversifying the economy in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. More information on services can be found on the PrairiesCan website.
